Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 21, 2008 20:17:30 GMT -5
Last season: 88-74, 2nd in A.L. Central
Manager: Jim Leyland, 3rd season, 1,252-1,272 (.496) career record
New faces: RHP Denny Bautista (COL), 3B Miguel Cabrera (FLA), OF Jacque Jones (CHC), SS Edgar Renteria (ATL), LHP Dontrelle Willis (FLA)
Left town: RHP Jose Capellan (COL), 1B Sean Casey (BOS), RHP Chad Durbin (PHI), IF Omar Infante (ATL), RHP Jair Jurrjens (ATL), OF Cameron Maybin (FLA), LHP Andrew Miller (FLA), IF Neifi Perez (free agent), C Mike Rabelo (FLA)
Overview: The Tigers grabbed most of the headlines this offseason by deciding that the future is now. First, they plugged a massive hole at shortstop by landing Edgar Renteria from the Braves. But that was just the appetizer when they kicked the lid off the winter meetings by prying Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis away from the Marlins. Their everyday line-up now sports seven former all-stars and a centre fielder who is on the verge of stardom. Their only perceived weakness is the back end of the bullpen where closer Todd Jones and set-up Fernando Rodney can erratic. If Joel Zumaya can return to form after multiple injuries in 2007, then those questions will be answered.
Stat to ponder: New third baseman Miguel Cabrera has driven in 523 runs since coming to the Majors with the Marlins as a teenager, 270 more than any player born since 1983. Top prospect: RHP Rick Porcello: Has yet to throw a pitch in the pros yet, but is being compared to Josh Beckett. At just 19, the Tigers, who are stacked with talent at the Major League level, must show patience if Porcello is to live up to his lofty advance billing.
Hitting
'07 AVG: .287 (2nd), RUNS/GAME: 5.48 (3rd), HR: 177 (10th)
The Tigers do quite well despite the fact that they play half their games in a pitcher's park. The additions to the everyday line-up give them no holes for opposition pitchers to take a break. The quiet acquisition of new left fielder Jacque Jones from the Cubs gives them the left-handed bat that they were lacking. It will be interesting to see how Cabrera adapts to changing leagues but he's as good a hitter as there is, so if Vlad Guerrero did it, so can Miguel. The Tigers fans will see that he's not likely to win a Gold Glove anytime soon. Renteria gives them an everyday shortstop that has a knack for picking up clutch hits and quietly goes about his business. If all the hitters feed off each other, this will be a fun team to watch.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 4.57 (18th), OPP AVG: .266 (12th)
The Tiger are hoping that a change of scenery and/or leagues will be enough for Willis to rediscover his past form. They have to hope that he'll fall somewhere between the 22-game winner that he was in 2005 and the bloated 5.17 ERA he put up last season. He's not expected to be "The Man" in Detroit, not with Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson there to help share the load. Pitching in the vast expanses of Comerica Park will help Willis. The bullpen will only need to good for three innings a night with this rotation. And they have to hope that veteran closer Todd Jones can give them one more good, not great, year.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: First, and a date with either the Red Sox or angels in the ALCS. If Willis can rediscover his stuff, the Tigers will be the team to beat in the A.L. this season.
Manager: Jim Leyland, 3rd season, 1,252-1,272 (.496) career record
New faces: RHP Denny Bautista (COL), 3B Miguel Cabrera (FLA), OF Jacque Jones (CHC), SS Edgar Renteria (ATL), LHP Dontrelle Willis (FLA)
Left town: RHP Jose Capellan (COL), 1B Sean Casey (BOS), RHP Chad Durbin (PHI), IF Omar Infante (ATL), RHP Jair Jurrjens (ATL), OF Cameron Maybin (FLA), LHP Andrew Miller (FLA), IF Neifi Perez (free agent), C Mike Rabelo (FLA)
Overview: The Tigers grabbed most of the headlines this offseason by deciding that the future is now. First, they plugged a massive hole at shortstop by landing Edgar Renteria from the Braves. But that was just the appetizer when they kicked the lid off the winter meetings by prying Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis away from the Marlins. Their everyday line-up now sports seven former all-stars and a centre fielder who is on the verge of stardom. Their only perceived weakness is the back end of the bullpen where closer Todd Jones and set-up Fernando Rodney can erratic. If Joel Zumaya can return to form after multiple injuries in 2007, then those questions will be answered.
Stat to ponder: New third baseman Miguel Cabrera has driven in 523 runs since coming to the Majors with the Marlins as a teenager, 270 more than any player born since 1983. Top prospect: RHP Rick Porcello: Has yet to throw a pitch in the pros yet, but is being compared to Josh Beckett. At just 19, the Tigers, who are stacked with talent at the Major League level, must show patience if Porcello is to live up to his lofty advance billing.
Hitting
'07 AVG: .287 (2nd), RUNS/GAME: 5.48 (3rd), HR: 177 (10th)
The Tigers do quite well despite the fact that they play half their games in a pitcher's park. The additions to the everyday line-up give them no holes for opposition pitchers to take a break. The quiet acquisition of new left fielder Jacque Jones from the Cubs gives them the left-handed bat that they were lacking. It will be interesting to see how Cabrera adapts to changing leagues but he's as good a hitter as there is, so if Vlad Guerrero did it, so can Miguel. The Tigers fans will see that he's not likely to win a Gold Glove anytime soon. Renteria gives them an everyday shortstop that has a knack for picking up clutch hits and quietly goes about his business. If all the hitters feed off each other, this will be a fun team to watch.
Pitching
'07 ERA (RANK): 4.57 (18th), OPP AVG: .266 (12th)
The Tiger are hoping that a change of scenery and/or leagues will be enough for Willis to rediscover his past form. They have to hope that he'll fall somewhere between the 22-game winner that he was in 2005 and the bloated 5.17 ERA he put up last season. He's not expected to be "The Man" in Detroit, not with Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson there to help share the load. Pitching in the vast expanses of Comerica Park will help Willis. The bullpen will only need to good for three innings a night with this rotation. And they have to hope that veteran closer Todd Jones can give them one more good, not great, year.
Statsman's non-binding prediction: First, and a date with either the Red Sox or angels in the ALCS. If Willis can rediscover his stuff, the Tigers will be the team to beat in the A.L. this season.
